Boost Domestic Violence Aid

March 21, 2007

Picture a woman needing to flee home with her young children in the middle of the night -- after being slapped around by her male partner for the umpteenth time -- with no idea how to feed and shelter them.

Picture her calling one of the state's 18 domestic violence centers for help and being told by an answering service to either call the police or leave her phone number and wait while a counselor is located to call her back or, worse yet, call back in the morning when there's someone in the office.

Domestic violence occurs more often and more unpredictably than you might think. It doesn't occur on a 9 to 5 schedule. And it is difficult for anyone who hasn't experienced such an episode to visualize it. Many incidents of violence go unreported -- the perpetrator gets away with it.

Only three of the 18 centers, however, have the capability to provide assistance 24 hours a day.

The Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence, an umbrella organization that represents all 18 centers, has asked the General Assembly to make the ideal and reality the same.

Coalition officials have asked for a budget increase of $2.25 million to provide 24-hour assistance at all of the centers.

That could make all the difference in the world to a mother and her children fleeing from abuse.